Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered blanks by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Garlic (大蒜) is one of the most common spices of the kitchen, and the good news is that growing garlic indoors is simple. Garlic can be easily grown at home from individual cloves (瓣), which is the most commonly used form of cultivating garlic than growing garlic from seeds. Here are some useful tips on growing garlic indoors.
Autumn is the best time to plant garlic. Garlic requires enough time to develop strong roots. In warmer climate, it can be delayed to late winter or early spring.
Ensure the container used to grow garlic is large enough for the roots to have enough space to grow. The larger the size of the container, the healthier and bigger the garlic bulbs (鳞茎) will be. The container should also have holes at the bottom so that the water can drain (流走) out easily.
Sow each clove vertically into the soil at a depth of one inch. Ensure that the bluntend (平端) is facing downward. In case of container gardening, the number of cloves to be sowed in each container depends on the size of the container. In case you are planning to sow more than one clove in each container, make sure that each clove is at least 5 inches apart from others.
For the best growth of the garlic plant, choose a sunny spot where there is enough air circulation (流通). This will aid evaporation (蒸发) of too much amount of water and prevent the soil from becoming too damp in case too much watering does occur. Window sill (窗台) is a good place to put your container of garlic plant.
Once the clove has been sowed, cover the soil with a layer of mulch (覆盖物) to protect the roots from extreme cold. Provide fertilizer at the correct time in right amounts, and proper watering. Once the garlic tips start appearing in the spring season, pull back the layer of mulch. Feed the plants once or twice every month with fertilizer.
Items |
(1) on growing garlic indoors. |
Time |
● It’s best to plant garlic in (2) ● In warmer climate, it’s also suitable to plant garlic in late winter or early spring. |
Container |
● Be large enough to (3) with enough space to grow. ● Have holes at the bottom to (4) the water to drain out easily. |
Sowing |
● Sow each clove vertically into the soil one inch (5) . ● Ensure that the blunt end is facing (6) . ● Ensure that each clove is at least 5 inches apart from others in a container. |
Place |
●Choose a sunny spot like window sill having enough(7) to aid evaporation of too much amount of water. |
Care |
●Cover the soil with a layer of mulch to(8) from extreme cold after sowing the clove. ● Provide right amounts of fertilizer at the correct time. ● Water the clove (9) . ● (10) the layer of mulch once the garlic tips start appearing. ● Use fertilizer to feed the plants once or twice a month. |
When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, “Well, it’s so-and-so’s fault.” or “I know I’m late,but it’s not my fault; the car broke down.” It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner’s key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don’t rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about—creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don’t have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on “whose fault it is.” Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.According to the passage, winners .
A.blame themselves rather than others |
B.meet with fewer difficulties in their lives |
C.have responsible and able colleagues |
D.deal with problems rather than blame others |
The underlined word remedy in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.
A.improve | B.accept |
C.avoid | D.consider |
When problems occur, winners take them as ______.
A.excuses for their failures | B.chances for self-development |
C.challenges to their colleagues | D.barriers to greater power |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.A Winner’s Opportunity. | B.A Winner’s Problem. |
C.A Winner’s Secret. | D.A Winner’s Achievement. |
Finding true happiness is a universal aspiration (渴望). We all want it, but can we all have it? Genuine happiness is written all over our faces when we are truly contented, and, likewise, a forced smile does nothing to hide underlying sadness.
Believing that everyone can create their own lasting joy, Matthieu Richard has been declared the Happiest Man in the World. Richard earned his “happiest man” status after a series of laboratory tests in 2004. Richard has shared his thoughts on happiness with a worldwide audience. As an experienced speaker, he has explained his insights into happiness to everyone, from students to corporate groups. Looking inwards to find joy rather than relying on outer conditions, he believes, is the way to achieve well-being.
“It’s quite clear that the outer conditions are not enough. The way we interpret those outer conditions in our inner experience is what determines either a sense of well-being or misery. We love to go jogging for fitness and we do all kinds of things to remain beautiful, yet we spend surprisingly little time taking care of what matters most: the way our minds function. It’s the essential thing that determines the quality of our experience.” Besides this, Richard stresses that it is not what’s happening around us that makes us unhappy, but rather the way we choose to react to it.
The pursuit of happiness is becoming a modern obsession(痴迷). As life becomes more complex, our ability to process our reactions to various outside influences comes under strain. “Genuine happiness” he says, “doesn’t mean pleasant feelings one after the other. It’s more like a series of qualities that we can develop as skills — like openness, genuine love, compassion, inner strength and inner peace.”Richard has been declared the Happiest Man in the World _______.
A.because he has shared his thoughts on happiness with a worldwide audience |
B.after he has explained his insights into happiness to everyone |
C.after a series of laboratory tests |
D.because he tries his best to achieve happiness and well-being |
According to Richard, what is the best way to achieve well-being?
A.Interpreting those outer conditions in our inner experience. |
B.Looking inwards to find joy rather than relying on outer conditions. |
C.Spending little time taking care of what matters most. |
D.Reacting to various outside influences in the modern world. |
What determines the quality of our experience?
A.The way our minds react to outer conditions. |
B.Insights into happiness that we hold. |
C.The constant pursuit of happiness in our life. |
D.Those outer conditions affecting our happiness. |
How can we pursuit happiness?
A.Go jogging for happiness. |
B.Do everything to remain beautiful. |
C.Make sure that our minds are functioning normally. |
D.Develop necessary qualities. |
If you see a group of people dancing and singing on the street or in the railway station, you don't need to feel surprised.They are a flash mob (快闪族), which is a group of people who come together suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, and then quickly break up.They are usually organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communication network.At a predetermined time, they gather and perform some distractions(消遣) such as waving their hands and exchanging books, Then, they quickly break up before the police can arrive.Using mobile phones, the flash mob can change its location if the first one has been replaced for any reason.
Bill Lasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob came together on June 3, 2003 - after the first attempt was foiled at Macy's department store.Lasik claimed that the activity was designed to make fun of hipsters (起时髦的人), and call attention to the cultural atmosphere.
Flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock people.Such an activity might seem amusing and untrue, but it also might frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place.Undoubtedly, flash mobs can serve as good political tools in any direction.They also have great economic potential, such as using flash mobs to advertise a product.
The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular.People use it to do many things.For example, in 2009, Michael Jackson's fans took part in a flash mob to remember him.Hundreds of his fans gathered singing and dancing Michael's famous song "Beat It" together.Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.The undefined word "foiled" in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by _。
A.forgotten | B.prevented |
C.announced | D.confirmed |
What can you learn about the flash mob from the passage?
A.The flash mob usually breaks up quickly for lacking enough time. |
B.Once the place for the activity is determined, it can't be changed. |
C.The flash mob can be made use offing many fields just for fun. |
D.It gives people the chance to come together to do something unusual. |
The main purpose of the passage is
A.to entertain | B.to encourage |
C.to inform | D.to persuade |
The writer's attitude towards the flash mob is
A.negative | B.objective |
C.favorable | D.doubtful |
An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow(乌鸦) rested on their window.
The father asked his son, “What is this?”
The son replied “It is a crow.”
After a few seconds the father asked his son the second time, “What is this?”
The son said, “Father, I just now told you; it is a crow.”
After a little while, the old man again asked his son the third time, “What is this?”
At this time some expression of anger was felt in the son’s tone when he said to his father, “It is a crow, a crow.”
A little later, the father again asked his son the fourth time, “What is it?”
This time the son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again? Although I have told you so many times? It is a crow. Are you not able to understand this?”
A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old diary which he had kept since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. The following words were written in it:
Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa. When a crow was sitting on the window, my son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel angered. I rather felt affection for my innocent(单纯的) child.
So ……
If your parents reach old age, do not look at them as a burden, but be kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.How many times did the father asked his son the same question?
A.Twice. | B.Three times. |
C.Four times. | D.Twenty-three times. |
What was written in the diary mainly shows_________.
A.the son’s foolishness | B.the father’s loneliness |
C.the father’s love for his son | D.the son’s curiosity |
After reading the diary, the son most probably felt_________.
A.very disappointed | B.even angrier |
C.rather happy | D.deeply ashamed |
What lesson should we learn from the passage?
A.We should be considerate to our parents. |
B.It’s important to be a great father. |
C.We should form the habit of keeping a diary. |
D.Old diaries have extraordinary values. |
The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching, and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt: “The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head stubbornly(固执地)and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.
“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in.”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.
When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good.”
“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked impatiently.
“Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said.
“The artwork?” I was puzzled.
The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.
What a relief!Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?
A.Upset. | B.Nervous. |
C.Satisfied. | D.Cheerful. |
What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?
A.The laughing assistant of the dentist. |
B.The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists. |
C.The surroundings of the dentist’s office. |
D.The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice. |
What did the author learn from her experience most probably?
A.Strike while the iron is hot. |
B.Put oneself in others’ shoes. |
C.Have a good word for one’s friend. |
D.A friend in need is a friend indeed. |